Guest Column: Mosquito Control should rethink 'copter

Guest Column: Mosquito Control should rethink 'copter



JEANNE MOELLER
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 08/05/07


In response to The St. Augustine Record editorial on Sunday July 15, I wish to add the following comments: My first formal motion in January 2007 was to sell the $1,800,000 Bell Jet Long Ranger helicopter contract because it was purchased by the board without competitive bids before my arrival. This is wrong and should be corrected.

Since then I have learned more about helicopters and this six-passenger beauty with intercoms for everyone and a special three-color $28,000 paint job is a Cadillac. However, we only need a Ford to kill mosquitoes.

The board has forgotten that this is the taxpayer money and the helicopter comes with standard one-color paint. This motion to sell the contract lost by a 3-2 vote (Linda Wampler, Emily Hummel, and Barbara Bosanko) as did the motion to have our attorney tell us if the purchase was legal.

I have learned that there are several helicopter manufacturers that make helicopters designed for mosquito control, also brand new with full avionics and operating options at a fraction of the cost. The board needs to reconsider this contract again, restart the process and may be able to save the taxpayers more than $1.5 million dollars.

Commissioner John Sundeman said that we might be able to sell this contract for a profit due to a price increase since our order was placed but again this motion was blocked by a 3-2 vote.

The second budget-busting purchase for $1.25 million was 25 acres off State Road 16 for a new central station.

This was also done by the board before my arrival -- without a survey, appraisal or an environmental impact study to ensure that the land is not polluted.

In addition, the board paid one-half of a large real estate commission, which is not customary.

Now the majority of the board members want to move forward on a building relying on the sale of two properties that may require environmental remediation.

This is irresponsible planning because our budget should not be balanced with proposed land sales especially when at least three members (Hummel, Sundeman, and myself) have made it clear to the public that they are not interested in selling the property.

I am not opposed to a new modern central station off our barrier island or to an aerial spraying program if our decisions are legal and cost effective.

I am very opposed to squandering the taxpayer's money.

Our employees work hard to protect your health and quality of life. They deserve your input and support.

Our board meetings are on the second Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. at 500 Old Beach Road.






Jeanne Moeller is a commissioner of the Anastasia Mosquito Control District.


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